60 FEBRUARY 2016 • plsn.com plsn.com • FEBRUARY 2016 61

Often, you hear that the gear on stage is only as good as the crew who’s working with it. This is gospel in the live entertainment business. So often it’s the gig of the production and stage managers to find the perfect match of people to work on their shows. They

pick and choose who to hire for each tour or event. But how does a management company go about finding the perfect fit for their respective tours?

In Nashville, that’s often by word of mouth. PLSN is offering an easier solution. Right here, we are listing the cream of the crop, the best darn production and stage managers working out of the Nashville area. Because of their skills, they all keep pretty busy. But never too busy to take your call and talk about the next gig coming up.”

Nashville-Based Production and Stage Managers

lone83608@mypacks.net

Chris Coffie

Title: Production ManagerRecently with: Carrie UnderwoodYears in the Biz: 27Years in Nashville Area: 23Other Job Titles Held: Stage Manager, Gaffer, LD, Carpenter, backline, LED techPrevious Acts/Tours: Carrie Underwood (2006-present), Ricky Martin, Romeo Santos, WWEOther Major Events: Robinhood Charity, ATF Stadium shows, Amway 50th Anniversary, Rockin RevComments: “Be safe. Just because you can hang it or build it, doesn’t mean you should.”

bphillips@ryman.com

Bud Phillips

Title: Stage ManagerRecently with: Tech with Carrie Underwood/Stage Manager at Ryman Auditorium since 2009Years in the Biz: 28Years in Nashville Area: 26Other Job Titles Held: Guitar Tech, Stage ManagerPrevious Acts/Tours: Hank Williams Jr., Travis Tritt, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Faith Hill, Trisha YearwoodOther Major Events: Stage Manager for Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam at BridgestoneComments: “Thought I would get some rest when I came off the road and went to a house gig at the Ryman. Boy was I wrong.”

earlneal@gmail.com

Earl Neal

Title: Production Manager

Recently with: The Band Perry

Years in the Biz: 24

Years in Nashville Area: 23

Other Job Titles Held: Monitor Engineer, FOH Audio

Engineer

Previous Acts/Tours: The Band Perry (2011-present),

Engelbert Humperdinck, Toby Keith, Patty Loveless

Other Major Events: CMA Fest - Live Events Production

Manager

billfarris@mac.com

Bill “Uncle Bill” Farris

Title: Stage Manager

Recently with: Brad Paisley

Years in the Biz: 30

Years in Nashville Area: 20

Other Job Titles Held: Production and Tour management

Previous Acts/Tours: Reba (90-97), LeAnn Rimes (98-06),

Brad (2007-present)

Other Major Events: Countless shows around town

Comments: “Lucky to have worked with most people here

because this road is not travelled alone.”

art@artrichproductions.com

Art Rich

Title: Production Manager, Technical Director

Recently with: CMA Fest at Nissan Stadium

Years in the Biz: 30

Years in Nashville Area: 2

Other Job Titles Held: Site Coordinator, Stage Manager,

Lighting Guy

Previous Acts/Tours: Blake Shelton, Judds, Keith Urban

Other Major Events: CM Fest 2012-2016, Internet of World

Things in Dubai, many large scale corporate shows

kevinF4107@me.com

Kevin Freeman

Title: Production Manager, FOH mixer

Recently with: Brad Paisley

Years in the Biz: 35 or so

Years in Nashville Area: 29

Other Job Titles Held: Tour Manager, Road Manager

Previous Acts/Tours: Brad Paisley 1999-present, LeAnn

Rimes, Billy Dean, Bellamy Bros.

Other Major Events: Assorted events, mostly a touring guy

prodjay@rascalflattsent.com

Jay Schwartz

Title: Production Manager

Recently with: Rascal Flatts

Years in the Biz: 30+

Years in Nashville Area: 20

Other Job Titles Held: Stage Manager, Master Electrician,

Lighting Crew Chief, Rigger, Set Carpenter

Previous Acts/Tours: David Bowie, Rod Stewart, Clapton,

Def Leppard, Andrea Bocelli

Other Major Events: Bonnie Raitt, Rascal Flatts, Yngwie

Malmsteen

rockfelter@mac.com

Chris “Rock” Glatfelter

Title: Stage Manager

Recently with: Lady Antebellum

Years in the Biz: 20

Years in Nashville Area: 1

Other Job Titles Held: Production Manager, Set Carpenter,

Guitar Tech

Previous Acts/Tours: Lady A, Black Keys, KISS, Daughtry,

Mötley Crüe

Other Major Events: Nashville Fourth of July Celebration,

C.G. Ryche Theatrical Showcase/Vegas

albertpwest@yahoo.com

Albert “Indy” West

Title: Production Manager, Stage Manager, Rigger

Recently with: The Judds, Tway Lifting Products

Years in the Biz: 24

Years in Nashville Area: 24; Indianapolis is home base now

Other Job Titles Held: TD, Operations Manager, Set

Carpenter

Previous Acts/Tours: The Judds, Dolly Parton, Reba, John

Michael Montgomery

Other Major Events: Flight Decks, from Air Force bases to

POTUS

brian@tourproduction.net

Brian Leedham

Title: Production CoordinatorRecently with: Reba, Brooks & Dunn (Vegas residency)Years in the Biz: Long timeYears in Nashville Area: Since 1980Other Job Titles Held: Director of Operations at Starwood Amphitheater, Site Coordinator, Promoter Rep, Logistics CoordinatorPrevious Acts/Tours: Reba, Blake Shelton, Lollapalooza, Goo Goo Dolls,Other Major Events: Stampede Concerts in Calgary, Olym-pics, World Cup, Boots and Hearts festivalComments: “Tell me/show me something I don’t already know in this business. That’s interesting. And let’s go for it.”

fredyanda@gmail.com

Fred Yanda

Title: Stage Manager

Recently with: Miranda Lambert

Years in the Biz: 30

Years in Nashville Area: 22

Other Job Titles Held: Production Manager, FOH/Monitor

Engineer, Scenic/Props, Backline Tech

Previous Acts/Tours: Miranda Lambert (2012-present),

WWE, Third Day, Gary Allan

Other Major Events: Country Music Hall of Fame Induction,

Showcases for iHeartMedia, Music City Fourth of July

erik@globalEproductions.com

Erik Leighty

Title: Production Manager

Recently with: Miranda Lambert

Years in the Biz: 18

Years in Nashville Area: 20

Other Job Titles Held: Production Assistant, Stage Manager

Previous Acts/Tours: Paramore, Staind, Rob Zombie, Nelly

Furtado

Other Major Events: Live on Penn (Washington, D.C.),

Dancing in the District (Nashville), On the Bricks (Atlanta)

pete.healey@gmail.com

Pete Healey

Title: Production Manager, FOH mixer

Recently with: Luke Bryan

Years in the Biz: 20

Years in Nashville Area: 16

Other Job Titles Held: Production Designer, Monitor

Engineer, FOH Audio Engineer, Tour Manager

Previous Acts/Tours: Luke Bryan, Travis Tritt, Kelly Clarkson,

Alter Bridge

Other Major Events: Capitol Records Street Party,

Mutemath/Armistice Live DVD shoot

wilkisonw@gmail.com

Will Wilkison

Title: Production Manager

Recently with: Lady Antebellum

Years in the Biz: 11

Years in Nashville Area: 33

Other Job Titles Held: Stage Manager, Automation Tech,

Carpenter, Audio Tech

Previous Acts/Tours: Lady Antebellum (2011-present),

Blake Shelton, Roger Waters, Sugarland, TSO

Other Major Events: Blake Shelton’s “Healing the Heartland”

(Stage Manager)

randygardner6786@gmail.com

Randy Gardner

Title: Stage Manager

Recently with: The Band Perry

Years in the Biz: 29

Years in Nashville Area: 19

Other Job Titles Held: Production Manager, FOH engineer,

Monitor Engineer, Lighting Director

Previous Acts/Tours: The Band Perry (2013-present), Darryl

Worley

Other Major Events: Assorted shows

shepmgmt@gmail.com

Dave “Shep” Shepard

Title: Stage Manager

Recently with: Rascal Flatts

Years in the Biz: 34

Years in Nashville Area: 22

Other Job Titles Held: Tour Manager, Production Manager,

Rigger, Lighting Designer/Director

Previous Acts/Tours: Jo Dee Messina, Sugarland, Fleetwood

Mac

Other Major Events: CMA music festivals

randybajafletcher@gmail.com

Randy “Baja” Fletcher

Title: Production ManagerRecently with: Keith UrbanYears in the Biz: 47Years in Nashville Area: 11 + 25 in KnoxvilleOther Job Titles Held: Stage Manager, Lighting Designer, Event Coordinator, Producer for video shootsPrevious Acts/Tours: ZZ Top, Waylon Jennings, Randy Travis, Brooks & Dunn, Keith UrbanOther Major Events: Production Manager for Coors Field show w/Toby Keith, Event Coordinator LSU stadium, Brooks & Dunn College Kickoff

benschmitt@gmail.com

Ben “Snake” Schmitt

Title: Production Manager, FOH Audio Engineer

Recently with: Kip Moore

Years in the Biz: 6

Years in Nashville Area: 10

Other Job Titles Held: Studio Audio Engineer

Previous Acts/Tours: David Nail, Dirt Drivers

Other Major Events: Studio work

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